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About Health and Safety

Part of the NCAA’s core mission is to provide student-athletes with a competitive environment that is safe and ensures fair play. While each school is responsible for the welfare of its student-athletes, the NCAA provides leadership by establishing safety guidelines, playing rules, equipment standards, drug testing procedures and research into the cause of injuries to assist decision making.

The Committee on Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports serves to provide expertise and leadership to the NCAA in order to provide a healthy and safe environment for student-athletes through research, education, collaboration and policy development. The committee is made up of 20 members who serve four-year terms, each of which comes from medical, administrative, legal, coaching or student-athlete backgrounds. View the current roster here.

Skin Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MRSA?

MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a potentially dangerous type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics and may cause serious skin and other infections.

How do skin infections (MRSA) spread?

MRSA is spread by: having direct contact with another person’s infection; sharing personal items, such as towels or razors, that have touched infected skin; touching surfaces or items, such as used bandages and equipment, contaminated with MRSA.

What are the signs and symptoms of a staph (MRSA) skin infection?

Most staph skin infections, including MRSA, appear as a bump or infected area on the skin that may be: red; swollen; painful; warm to the touch; full of pus or other drainage; accompanied by a fever.

How can I prevent an infection?

  • If you see a spot, check the spot.
  • Know the signs of MRSA and get it treated early.
  • Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered.
  • Encourage good hygiene such as cleaning hands regularly, regular showers, wash clothing and equipment.
  • Discourage sharing of personal items such as towels, razors, equipment.

What steps can I take to protect myself from sun exposure?

  • Apply a broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher before going outdoors and reapply often.
  • Do not use tanning beds or other artificial sources of UV light.
  • Stay in the shade whenever possible and choose locations with shade for outdoor activities.
  • Wear protective clothing when outside.

Skin infections and damage can have profound effects on the health of student athletes.

Open wounds, poor hygiene practices, close physical contact, and the sharing of towels and equipment commonly lead to the presence and spread of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly referred to as MRSA, a bacterial infection that can be resistant to commonly used antibiotics.

Routine outdoor practices and competitions also expose student-athletes to intense sunlight, which can lead to eye damage, immune system suppression and skin cancer.

By raising awareness of the risks and taking proper precautions, we can reduce student-athletes’ risks of exposure skin issues.

Resources

2012-13 Sports Medicine Handbook

CDC Report: MRSA in Athletics

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Last Updated: Aug 27, 2012